Build A Track: How to Learn and Teach Resource Sharing within the MLIS Curriculum

Abstract

There is a need to prepare future resource sharing professionals, but this specialization is not typically part of the MLIS curriculum. To address this gap the authors propose building a track of courses that could prepare future librarians for a career in resource sharing when paired with learning outside the classroom. They demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by mapping RUSA’s Professional Competencies for Resource Sharing Practitioners (2024) and Guidelines for Resource Sharing Operations Management (2022) to the MLIS curriculum at the University of Maryland’s College of Information. Core courses and electives are evaluated to identify which competencies were being met through the curriculum, where hands-on learning or resource sharing community resources would be more effective, and courses that could feature resource sharing to further strengthen the pipeline.